Peloso was described by police as white, 5’8″, 150 lbs., with brown eyes and short, light-brown hair. He was last seen wearing a dark-blue jacket with a hood, tan-coloured cargo shorts, and blue flip-flops.

Smitherman, a runner-up in the last Toronto mayoral election and former Liberal health minister for Ontario, issued a short statement Tuesday:

I regret to confirm that Christopher Peloso has been missing from our home for almost 24 hours.

Michael, Kayla and myself, with the support of family and friends, are hopeful that our husband and father will be home safely soon.

Michael and Kayla are the couple’s adopted children.

Other figures in Ontario and Toronto politics tweeted messages about Peloso’s disappearance during the search.